Sometimes funders are criticized for supporting nonprofit news. Commercial outlets say it is wrong to finance "competition." That's not how I see it. The Titanic is sinking and there are not enough lifeboats. If you send more lifeboats, that's not competition. It's a rescue.
> We are re-inventing news— that’s the opportunity, and it can even be the fun. To make the most of the opportunity, we need to embrace the future with urgency and determination. And with a zest for experimentation and change.
Fantastic quote. It's hard work, but in terms of fun and fulfillment we are in a good spot. I am dreading 2024 though! It was NOT fun being a publisher during pandemic and 2020 cycle.
Gutsy take, Dick. Especially on the local news/news desert front. I agree with most of your piece, except that. Every news outlet will have some version of national and international news. But who will cover a small-town council? Not the TV station or big newspaper 50 or 100 miles away?
It's especially painful to watch CNN's and MSNBC's march backwards. Instead of moving ahead with nonlinear (on-demand) news delivery, they're doubling down on linear delivery with even more emphasis on talking heads on flashy news sets.
Also re news deserts? The "Great Hollowing Out" continues on the High Plains. Many places that had population to support a newspaper 20-30 years ago simply don't today. Or, in places like the southern Texas portion of the area, an ever-greater percentage of the population that remains is of Hispanic ancestry, and I suspect the Texas Press Association is going to miss that one. https://beloblogging.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-texas-press-association-in-20-years.html
No attribution for the images? "When we make the case for crediting our sources, more of us concentrate on the plight of the original creator of the work. But that's only half the story⸺if you fail to properly attribute work that you share, you not only rob the person who made it, you rob all the people you've shared it with. Without attribution, they have no way to dig deeper into the work or find more of it." - Austin Kleon in "Show Your Work"
Sometimes funders are criticized for supporting nonprofit news. Commercial outlets say it is wrong to finance "competition." That's not how I see it. The Titanic is sinking and there are not enough lifeboats. If you send more lifeboats, that's not competition. It's a rescue.
Great piece and terrific graphic!
> We are re-inventing news— that’s the opportunity, and it can even be the fun. To make the most of the opportunity, we need to embrace the future with urgency and determination. And with a zest for experimentation and change.
Fantastic quote. It's hard work, but in terms of fun and fulfillment we are in a good spot. I am dreading 2024 though! It was NOT fun being a publisher during pandemic and 2020 cycle.
Gutsy take, Dick. Especially on the local news/news desert front. I agree with most of your piece, except that. Every news outlet will have some version of national and international news. But who will cover a small-town council? Not the TV station or big newspaper 50 or 100 miles away?
Excellent report. I made similar comments about the importance of video in a YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3h_S4AmhKU&t=484s
It's especially painful to watch CNN's and MSNBC's march backwards. Instead of moving ahead with nonlinear (on-demand) news delivery, they're doubling down on linear delivery with even more emphasis on talking heads on flashy news sets.
Also re news deserts? The "Great Hollowing Out" continues on the High Plains. Many places that had population to support a newspaper 20-30 years ago simply don't today. Or, in places like the southern Texas portion of the area, an ever-greater percentage of the population that remains is of Hispanic ancestry, and I suspect the Texas Press Association is going to miss that one. https://beloblogging.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-texas-press-association-in-20-years.html
No attribution for the images? "When we make the case for crediting our sources, more of us concentrate on the plight of the original creator of the work. But that's only half the story⸺if you fail to properly attribute work that you share, you not only rob the person who made it, you rob all the people you've shared it with. Without attribution, they have no way to dig deeper into the work or find more of it." - Austin Kleon in "Show Your Work"